Virtual queuing system using proximity-based short-range wireless links

• US 6,424,623 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moore, Morris Anthony, Borgstahl, Ronald William, Schorman, Eric Reed, Austin, William Bryan, Muncaster, George William, Reed, John Douglas, Woodward, Ernest Earl, Harris, Jeffrey Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hyun, Soon-Dong
• Application Number:
  US09/454,846
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/341, 370/349, 370/464, 370/465, 370/471, 370/328, 370/401, 370/402, 370/403, 370/412, 370/429, 370/313, 370/230, 370/310, 370/431, 370/438, 370/449
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks

Abstract

A peer device (132) is arranged and programmed for maintaining a virtual queue for an event, and a personal presence identifier (122) is carried by a user and coupled to the peer device by a short-range two-way wireless link. The peer device and the personal presence identifier are arranged and programmed to establish (58) a two-way personal area network with one another when the personal presence identifier is within wireless transmission range of the peer device. The personal presence identifier and the peer device are also arranged and programmed to exchange (82) needs specifications and capability specifications with one another after establishing the two-way personal area network.

Claims

1. A virtual queuing system using proximity-based short-range wireless links, the virtual queuing system comprising:

a peer device arranged and programmed for maintaining a virtual queue for an event taking place at a venue; and

a personal presence identifier carried by a user and coupled to the peer device by a short-range two-way wireless link,

wherein the peer device and the personal presence identifier are arranged and programmed to establish a two-way personal area network with one another when the personal presence identifier is within wireless transmission range of the peer device, and

wherein the personal presence identifier and the peer device are also arranged and programmed to exchange needs specifications and capability specifications with one another after establishing the two-way personal area network.

2. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device is further arranged and programmed to provide support for a logical queue for the event, and

wherein the peer device and the personal presence identifier are further arranged and programmed to cooperate to place an identifier of the personal presence identifier into the logical queue, in response to a request from the personal presence identifier.

3. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device is further arranged and programmed to send to the personal presence identifier an estimated waiting time to access the event.

4. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device is further arranged and programmed to send to the personal presence identifier a cost of accessing the event.

5. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device is further arranged and programmed to send to the personal presence identifier an alert when an estimated time to reach the event is less than a predetermined time.

6. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device is further arranged and programmed to multiplex with a plurality of personal presence identifiers for maintaining a corresponding plurality of positions in the virtual queue.

7. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device and the personal presence identifier are further arranged and programmed to have an exchange of information about the user and a payment method, the exchange of information transparent to the user.

8. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the personal presence identifier comprises a timer for generating an alert indicating that the user should approach the venue of the event.

9. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device and the personal presence identifier are further arranged and programmed to exchange information defining how many people are associated with the personal presence identifier, and

wherein the peer device queues a corresponding number of positions in the virtual queue.

10. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device and the personal presence identifier are further arranged and programmed to exchange user attributes affecting participation in the event.

11. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device and the personal presence identifier are further arranged and programmed to stop advancing a position of the user in the virtual queue when further advancement would require the user to approach the venue of the event, and when the user is performing a predetermined activity.

12. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device and the personal presence identifier are further arranged and programmed to utilize the personal presence identifier as a key for entering a physical queue at the event.

13. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device and the personal presence identifier are further arranged and programmed to provide for dispensing of a virtual ticket to the personal presence identifier, and

wherein the personal presence identifier is further arranged and programmed to display the virtual ticket for presentation to a person guarding an entryway to the event.

14. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device and the personal presence identifier are further arranged and programmed to display seating information on a display of the personal presence identifier and to allow seating selection by the user.

15. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device and the personal presence identifier are further arranged and programmed to provide for selection of special needs accommodations.

16. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device and the personal presence identifier are further arranged and programmed to provide a waiting list function for a desired seating when the desired seating is unavailable and alternate seating has been purchased.

17. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device and the personal presence identifier are further arranged and programmed to display information related to the event on a display of the personal presence identifier.

18. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device and the personal presence identifier are further arranged and programmed to provide for ordering items to be delivered to the user during the event.

19. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device and the personal presence identifier are further arranged and programmed to allow a selection of an event from multiple discrete events.

20. The virtual queuing system of claim 1,

wherein the peer device is one of a plurality of networked peer devices, and

wherein the event is one of a plurality of events, and

wherein the plurality of networked peer devices and the personal presence identifier are further arranged and programmed to allow purchasing tickets for any of the plurality of events through any of the plurality of networked peer devices.