Queue monitoring and/or control system
First Claim
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1. A queue monitoring and/or control system for monitoring and/or controlling a queue of persons waiting for service by a plurality of clerks, comprising:
- a card dispenser for dispensing sequentially-numbered cards to persons as each joins the end of the queue;
a plurality of card readers, one for each clerk, for reading the card number when received by the clerk from each person as each reaches a clerk at the beginning of the queue;
a real time clock for indicating the queue joining time for each card dispensed by said dispenser to a person when joining the end of the queue, and the clerk reaching time for each card read by said card readers as each person reaches a clerk at the beginning of the queue;
and a data processor including;
means for inputting predetermined fixed data relating to permissible queue parameters;
means for inputting the card numbers and queue joining times from the card dispenser and the real time clock, and the card numbers and clerk reaching times from the card readers and the real time clock; and
programmed means for controlling the data processor to indicate any changes in the number of clerks required in order to comply with said permissible queue parameters of the inputted fixed data.
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Abstract
A queue monitoring and/or control system for monitoring and/or controlling a queue of persons waiting for service by a plurality of clerks. A card dispenser dispenses sequentially-numbered cards to persons as each joins the end of the queue; a card reader for each clerk for reading the card number when received by the clerk from each person as each reaches a clerk at the beginning of the queue. A real time clock for indicates the queue joining time for each card dispensed by the dispenser to a person when joining the end of the queue, and the clerk reaching time for each card read by the card readers as each person reaches a clerk at the beginning of the queue. A data processor processes the above data according to permissible queue parameters.
50 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A queue monitoring and/or control system for monitoring and/or controlling a queue of persons waiting for service by a plurality of clerks, comprising:
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a card dispenser for dispensing sequentially-numbered cards to persons as each joins the end of the queue; a plurality of card readers, one for each clerk, for reading the card number when received by the clerk from each person as each reaches a clerk at the beginning of the queue; a real time clock for indicating the queue joining time for each card dispensed by said dispenser to a person when joining the end of the queue, and the clerk reaching time for each card read by said card readers as each person reaches a clerk at the beginning of the queue; and a data processor including;
means for inputting predetermined fixed data relating to permissible queue parameters;
means for inputting the card numbers and queue joining times from the card dispenser and the real time clock, and the card numbers and clerk reaching times from the card readers and the real time clock; and
programmed means for controlling the data processor to indicate any changes in the number of clerks required in order to comply with said permissible queue parameters of the inputted fixed data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A queue monitoring and/or control system for monitoring and/or controlling a queue of persons waiting for service by a plurality of clerks, comprising:
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a card dispenser for dispensing sequentially-numbered cards to persons as each joins the end of the queue; a plurality of card readers, one for each clerk, for reading the card number when received by the clerk from each person as each reaches a clerk at the beginning of the queue; a real time clock for indicating the queue joining time for each card dispensed by said dispenser to a person when joining the end of the queue, and the clerk reaching time for each card read by said card readers as each person reaches a clerk at the beginning of the queue; and a data processor including;
means for inputting predetermined fixed data relating to permissible queue parameters;
means for inputting the card numbers and queue joining times from the card dispenser and the real time clock, and the card numbers and clerk reaching times from the card readers and the real time clock;
programmed means for controlling the data processor to indicate any changes in the number of clerks required in order to comply with said permissible queue parameters of the inputted fixed data; and
display means for displaying the number of clerks if any to be added or subtracted, the current queue length, the current queue waiting time, and the average service time. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeThe Taylor Institute For Industrial Management Science Limited
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Original AssigneeThe Taylor Institute For Industrial Management Science Limited
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InventorsBar-Yehuda, Abraham
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Primary Examiner(s)PITTS, HAROLD I
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Application NumberUS07/887,948Time in Patent Office476 DaysField of Search235/379, 235/380, 235/383, 235/377, 364/408US Class Current235/377CPC Class CodesG06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human...G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or ap...G07C 2011/04 related to queuing systems
