MOBILE APPLICATION FOR AN AMUSEMENT PARK OR WATERPARK

• US 20140132400A1
• Filed: 11/11/2013
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WhiteWater West Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: WhiteWater West Industries Limited
• Inventors: Weston, Denise, Briggs, Rick, Heaven, Edwin Michael Gyde
• Granted Patent: US 10,516,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/00 Amusement arrangements hoop exercising apparatus driven by the user A63B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0324 With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid

Abstract

A mobile application for execution upon an electronic device for an amusement park or waterpark. The mobile application provides information, entertainment or other convenience data to the user while the user is within the park. The mobile application may be configured to determine a position of the electronic device within the park and display notifications including discounts at nearby vendors or restaurants, menus of nearby eateries, or ride recommendations based upon wait times. The mobile application may allow the user to make reservations at nearby restaurants within the park. The mobile application may generate an efficient ride sequence for the user based upon characteristics of either the user or the user'"'"'s participation within the park and navigate the user around the park according to the ride sequence. Puzzles, games, or other entertainment or educational activities may be displayed to the user for providing rewards based upon their participation.

Claims

1. A method of providing information to a user regarding an amusement park, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a mobile application configured to be executed by a processor of a mobile device;

determining, using the processor, a first attraction for participation thereon by the user;

determining, using the processor, a geographic position of the mobile device;

determining, using the processor, a distance of the first attraction from the geographic position of the mobile device;

determining, using the processor, a first parameter corresponding to the first attraction if the distance of the first attraction from the geographic position of the mobile device is less than a first threshold; and

navigating, using the processor, the user to the first attraction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining, using the processor, the geographic position of the mobile device comprises the use of a global positioning system (GPS) of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining, using the processor, a second attraction for participation thereon by the user if the first attraction is not less than a first threshold;

determining, using the processor, a distance of the second attraction from the geographic position of the mobile device;

determining, using the processor, a wait time for the second attraction if the distance of the second attraction from the geographic position of the mobile device is less than a second threshold; and

navigating, using the processor, the user to the second attraction if the wait time for the second attraction is less than a second predetermined wait time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of navigating the user to the first attraction comprises displaying a map on a screen of the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first threshold is configured to be modified by the user.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first attraction is configured to be selected by the user from a list of attractions displayed on the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of generating a user profile corresponding to the user, the user profile configured to be accessed by the mobile application.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first parameter is a wait time for the first attraction and wherein the step of navigating the user to the first attraction is based on the wait time for the first attraction being less than a first predetermined wait time.

9. A method of providing information to a user about an amusement park, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a mobile application configured to be executed by a processor of a mobile device;

determining, using the processor, a first characteristic corresponding to the user;

determining, using the processor, a plurality of attractions for the user to participate thereon based upon the first characteristic;

determining, using the processor, a response option corresponding to participation on the plurality of attractions; and

navigating, using the processor, the user to the plurality of attractions based upon the response option.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of determining, using the processor, a modified plurality of attractions for the user to participate thereon based upon input received from the user.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the response option is an attraction sequence based upon the modified plurality of attractions.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the first characteristic corresponding to the user is selected from the group consisting of height of the user, age of the user, gender of the user, or preferred attraction type of the user.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of

determining, using the processor, a second characteristic selected from the group consisting of (1) time the user is expected to be in the amusement park, (2) weather forecast for a time the user is expected to be in the amusement park, (3) day of the week when the user is expected to be in the amusement park, (4) or period of the year when the user is expected to be in the amusement park, and

wherein the step of determining a plurality of attractions for the user to participate thereon is based upon the first characteristic and the second characteristic.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of navigating the user around the amusement park further comprises the steps of:

determining a geographic position of the mobile device; and

displaying a map on a display of the mobile device and having an indicator displayed thereon for indicating to the user a travel path from the geographic position of the mobile device to at least one of the plurality of attractions.

15. A method of adjusting a feature of a waterslide attraction, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a software application for execution by a processor of an electronic device;

receiving input from the user via the electronic device; and

modifying a feature of the waterslide attraction while a rider slides on the waterslide attraction based upon the input received from the user.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the feature of the amusement ride is a volume of water configured to flow upon a surface of the amusement ride.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the feature of the amusement ride is plate positioned adjacent to a sliding surface of the amusement ride, the plate configured to accelerate or decelerate a rider on the sliding surface based upon an electric current provided to the plate.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the feature of the amusement ride is a queue to slide on a sliding surface of the amusement ride, and wherein the step of modifying the feature of the amusement ride comprises moving the user forward in the queue.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the feature of the amusement ride is a scoreboard configured to display a score of the user thereon.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the feature of the amusement ride is a camera configured to photograph a rider on the amusement ride.

21. A mobile application for a waterslide attraction comprising:

computer-readable instructions configured to be executed by a processor of a mobile device, the instructions configured to

determine, using the processor, a first attraction for participation thereon by a user,

determine, using the processor, a geographic position of the mobile device,

determine, using the processor, a distance of the first attraction from the geographic position of the mobile device,

determine, using the processor, a first parameter corresponding to the first attraction if the distance of the first attraction from the geographic position of the mobile device is less than a first threshold, and

navigate, using the processor, the user to the first attraction.