SYSTEM FOR REGULATING ACCESS TO A RESOURCE

• US 20100277276A1
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lo-Q PLC
• Original Assignee: Lo-Q PLC
• Inventors: BAYNE, Christopher, Sim, Leonard, Butler, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 10,062,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.21
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/04 related to queuing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/10 Movable barriers with registering means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards

Abstract

A system for regulating access to a resource by a plurality of users is provided. The system comprises: a plurality of portable access keys, each being provided to one of the users and having an associated variable access parameter; an access barrier, having an open state allowing passage through and a closed state denying access to the resource, and defining an access queue; a sensor that determines an access queue characteristic related to a number of users in the access queue; a controller, which sets an access criterion based on the determined access queue characteristic; and a detector, located at the access barrier and which determines the variable access parameter of a portable access key when it is brought into the vicinity of the detector. The controller sets the access barrier in its open state if the variable access parameter determined by the detector meets the access criterion.

Claims

1. A system for regulating access to a resource by a plurality of users, the system comprising:

a plurality of portable access keys, each portable access key being provided to one of the plurality of users and having a variable access parameter associated therewith, each portable access key further allowing the respective user to indicate a desire for a number of people to access the resource; and

a queue manager, arranged to set an access criterion for the resource, to determine that the variable access parameter for a portable access key for which a desire to access the resource has been indicated meets the access criterion, and in consequence, to allow the user of the portable access key to join an access queue, users in the access queue subsequently being provided access to the resource, the queue manager being further configured to determine a characteristic for the access queue, related to a number of users in the access queue; and

wherein the queue manager is further configured to set the access criterion for the resource on the basis of a characteristic for the access queue.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to set the variable access parameter for each of the plurality of portable access keys independently from the characteristic for the access queue.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the queue manager comprises:

an access barrier, having an open state allowing passage through the access barrier towards the resource and a closed state denying access to the resource, the access barrier defining the access queue;

a sensor, arranged to determine the access queue characteristic;

a controller, arranged to set the access criterion based on the determined access queue characteristic; and

a detector, located at the access barrier and adapted to determine the variable access parameter of a portable access key when the portable access key is brought into the vicinity of the detector, the user indicating a desire for a number of people to access the resource by bringing it into the vicinity of the detector; and

wherein the controller is further arranged to set the access barrier in its open state if the variable access parameter determined by the detector meets the access criterion.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the access queue characteristic is indicative of a waiting time of users in the access queue.

5. The system of claim 3, further arranged to adjust the variable access parameter associated with the detected portable access key if the access barrier is set to its open state.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of portable access keys comprises a portable module comprising:

a memory, arranged to store the respective variable access parameter for the portable module; and

a transmitter, arranged to transmit the variable access parameter associated with the portable module; and

wherein the detector comprises a receiver arranged to receive the associated variable access parameter.

7. The system of claim 3, further comprising an entrance barrier, the entrance barrier and access barrier defining the access queue, and wherein the sensor is arranged to measure the number of users in the access queue.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor comprises:

an entrance barrier counter, arranged to count the number of users passing through the entrance barrier and thereby leaving the access queue.

9. The system of claim 8,

wherein each of the plurality of portable access keys has an associated identifier;

wherein the entrance barrier counter is arranged to count the number of users passing through the entrance barrier using a receiver arranged to receive the associated identifier from a portable access key;

wherein the detector at the access barrier comprises a receiver arranged to receive said identifier; and

wherein the controller is further arranged to set the access barrier in its open state if the receiver of the detector receives an associated identifier and the variable access parameter determined by the detector meets the access criterion.

10. The system of claim 9, further arranged to adjust the variable access parameter associated with the portable access key from which the associated identifier is received at the entrance barrier.

11. The system of claim 10,

wherein each of the plurality of portable access keys comprises a transmitter arranged to transmit the associated identifier.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein the sensor is arranged to determine a plurality of access queue characteristics, and wherein the controller is arranged to set the access criterion based on the plurality of access queue characteristics.

13. The system of claim 3, wherein the variable access parameter comprises a number and wherein, for each of the plurality of portable access keys, the system is arranged to measure the time elapsed since the respective variable access parameter was changed and to increase the respective variable access parameter based on the measured time elapsed.

14. The system of claim 3, wherein the variable access parameter comprises a number and wherein the controller is arranged to set the access criterion by determining a threshold and to set the access barrier in its open state if the variable access parameter determined by the detector meets the threshold.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the access queue comprises a queue sequence and wherein the queue manager comprises:

a queue interface, adapted to determine that the variable access parameter for a portable access key for which a desire to access the resource has been indicated meets the access criterion, and consequently to register the portable access key in the queue sequence; and

wherein the queue manager is further arranged to manage the queue sequence and to communicate to a portable access key that has been added to the queue sequence an indication of when it can access the resource.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the queue manager is configured to remove the registration of portable access keys from the front of the queue sequence at a rate that is based on a throughput rate for the resource.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the queue interface forms part of the portable access key.

19. The system claim 16, wherein the portable access key further comprises a transmitter configured to communicate the indication of a desire to the queue interface.

20. The system claim 16, wherein the queue manager is further configured to store the indication of when a portable access key can access the resource.

21. The system claim 16, further arranged to adjust the variable access parameter associated with a portable access key after the queue manager communicates an indication of when the portable access key can access the resource.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the queue interface is arranged to register the portable access key at the back of the queue sequence and wherein the queue manager is further arranged to maintain the queue sequence and to remove the registration of portable access keys from the front of the queue sequence at a known rate.

23. The system of claim 22:

wherein the queue manager is further arranged to determine a waiting time for the resource, and to communicate the waiting time and access criterion to the portable access keys;

wherein the queue interface forms a part of each portable access key, the queue interface being further arranged to communicate the determination that the variable access parameter meets the access criterion to the queue manager as a registration, and then to determine a time for the user of the portable access key to access the resource on the basis of the waiting time received from the queue manager; and

wherein the queue manager is further arranged to receive the registrations from the portable access keys, to determine the length of the queue sequence and the waiting time for the resource on the basis of the number of registrations received, and to set the access criterion for the resource on the basis of the number of users waiting to access the resource.

24. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

an access barrier, having an open state allowing passage through the access barrier and a closed state denying access to the resource;

a detector, located at the access barrier and adapted to identify a portable access key brought into the vicinity of the detector;

wherein the controller is further arranged to set the access barrier in its open state if the queue manager or the portable access key has stored an indication that the portable access key identified by the detector can access the resource at the time of detection.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of portable access keys comprises a portable module comprising a transmitter, arranged to transmit a unique identifier for the portable module, and wherein the detector comprises a receiver arranged to receive the transmitted unique identifier.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the variable access parameter comprises a number and wherein, for each of the plurality of portable access keys, the system is arranged to measure the time elapsed since the respective variable access parameter was changed and to increase the respective variable access parameter based on the measured time elapsed.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein the variable access parameter comprises a number and wherein the queue interface is arranged to set the access criterion by determining a threshold.

15. A system for regulating access to a first resource and a second resource by a plurality of users, the system comprising:

a plurality of portable access keys, each portable access key being provided to one of the plurality of users and having a variable access parameter associated therewith;

a first access barrier, having an open state allowing passage through the access barrier and a closed state denying access to the first resource, the first access barrier defining a first access queue;

a first sensor, arranged to determine a first access queue characteristic, related to a number of users in the first access queue;

a first controller, arranged to set a first access criterion for the first access barrier based on the determined first access queue characteristic; and

a first detector, located at the first access barrier and adapted to determine the variable access parameter of a portable access key when the portable access key is brought into the vicinity of the first detector;

a second access barrier, having an open state allowing passage through the second access barrier and a closed state denying access to the second resource, the access barrier defining a second access queue;

a second sensor, arranged to determine a second access queue characteristic, the second access queue characteristic being related to a number of users in the second access queue;

a second controller, arranged to set a second access criterion for the second access barrier based on the determined second access queue characteristic; and

a second detector, located at the second access barrier and adapted to determine the variable access parameter of a portable access key when the portable access key is brought into the vicinity of the second detector;

wherein the first controller is further arranged to set the first access barrier in its open state if the variable access parameter determined by the first detector meets the first access criterion; and

wherein the second controller is further arranged to set the second access barrier in its open state if the variable access parameter determined by the second detector meets the second access criterion.

28. A system for regulating access to a first resource and a second resource by a plurality of users, the system comprising:

a plurality of portable access keys, each portable access key being provided to one of the plurality of users and having a variable access parameter associated therewith, each portable access key further allowing the respective user to indicate a desire for a number of people to access the first resource or second resource;

a first queue manager, arranged to set an access criterion for the resource;

a first queue interface, adapted to determine that the variable access parameter for a portable access key for which a desire to access the first resource has been indicated meets the first access criterion, and consequently to register the portable access key at the back of a first queue sequence;

a second queue manager, arranged to set a second access criterion for the second resource; and

a second queue interface, adapted to determine that the variable access parameter for a portable access key for which a desire to access the second resource has been indicated meets the second access criterion, and consequently to register the portable access key at the back of a second queue sequence;

wherein the first queue manager is further arranged to manage the first queue sequence and to communicate to a portable access key that has been added to the first queue sequence an indication of when it can access the resource;

wherein the first queue manager is further configured to set the first access criterion for the first resource on the basis of a length of the first queue sequence;

wherein the second queue manager is further arranged to manage the second queue sequence and to communicate to a portable access key that has been added to the queue sequence an indication of when it can access the resource; and

wherein the second queue manager is further configured to set the second access criterion for the second resource on the basis of a length of the second queue sequence.

29. A method of regulating access to a resource by a plurality of users, the method comprising:

defining a plurality of variable access parameters, each variable access parameter being associated with a respective user from the plurality of users;

determining an access queue characteristic, the access queue characteristic relating to a number of users wishing to access the resource who are waiting in an access queue; and

allowing a user from the plurality of users to access the resource if the variable access parameter for said user meets an access criterion, the access criterion being based on the determined access queue characteristic, to regulate access to the resource thereby.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the access queue is defined by an access barrier and wherein the step of allowing a user to access the resource comprises opening the access barrier.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

adjusting the variable access parameter for a user passing through the opened access barrier.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the variable access parameter comprises a number, the method further comprising:

measuring, for each of the plurality of users, the time elapsed since their respective variable access parameter was changed; and

increasing, the variable access parameter for each of the plurality of users, based on the respective measured time elapsed.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the access queue is an electronic queue structure, the method further comprising:

registering the user in the electronic queue structure if the variable access parameter for said user meets the access criterion;

managing the electronic queue structure; and

communicating to a portable access key that has been added to the queue sequence an indication of when it can access the resource.

34. A method for regulating access to a resource by a plurality of users, the method comprising:

providing a portable access key to each of the plurality of users, each portable module having a variable access parameter associated therewith;

defining an access queue using an access barrier;

closing the access barrier so as to deny access to the resource;

determining an access queue characteristic, the access queue characteristic being related to a number of users in the access queue;

setting an access criterion for the access barrier based on the determined access queue characteristic;

determining the variable access parameter of a portable access key when the portable access key is brought into the vicinity of a detector in the access barrier; and

opening the access barrier, to allow passage through the access barrier, if the variable access parameter determined by the detector meets the access criterion.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

adjusting the variable access parameter for a user passing through the opened access barrier.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the variable access parameter comprises a number, the method further comprising:

measuring, for each of the plurality of users, the time elapsed since their respective variable access parameter was changed; and

increasing, the variable access parameter for each of the plurality of users, based on the respective measured time elapsed.

37. A method for regulating access to a resource by a plurality of users, the method comprising:

providing a portable access key to each of the plurality of users, each portable access key having a variable access parameter associated therewith;

receiving and storing an indication from a user of a desire for a number of people to access the resource using the portable access key;

setting an access criterion for the resource;

determining that the variable access parameter for a portable access key for which a desire to access the resource has been indicated meets the access criterion, and consequently registering the portable access key in a queue sequence;

managing the queue sequence; and

communicating to a portable access key that has been added to the queue sequence an indication of when it can access the resource; and

wherein the access criterion is set for the resource on the basis of a length of the queue sequence.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the variable access parameter is set for each of the plurality of portable access keys independently from the queue sequence length.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of registering the portable access key in a queue sequence comprises registering the portable access key at the back of the queue sequence, wherein managing the queue sequence comprises maintaining the queue sequence, the method further comprising:

removing the registration of portable access keys from the front of the queue sequence at a known rate.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the step of removing the registration of portable access keys from the front of the queue sequence is at a rate that is based on a throughput rate for the resource.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of determining is carried out at each portable access key, the method further comprising:

determining a waiting time for the resource in a queue manager, and communicating the waiting time and the access criterion from the queue manager to the portable access keys;

communicating the determination that the variable access parameter meets the access criterion from the portable access key to the queue manager as a registration;

receiving the registrations from the portable access keys at the queue manager;

determining the length of the queue sequence and the waiting time for the resource at the queue manager on the basis of the number of registrations received;

setting the access criterion for the resource on the basis of the number of users waiting to access the resource; and

determining, at the portable access key, a time for its user to access the resource, on the basis of the waiting time received from the queue manager.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising adjusting the variable access parameter associated with a portable access key when an indication of when the portable access key can access the resource is stored.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the variable access parameter comprises a number, the method further comprising:

measuring, for each of the plurality of users, the time elapsed since their respective variable access parameter was changed; and

increasing, the variable access parameter for each of the plurality of users, based on the respective measured time elapsed.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein the variable access parameter comprises a number and wherein the access criterion is set by determining a threshold.