Method and system for electronic route planning and virtual queue handling
First Claim
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1. A queue monitoring system comprising:
- a detection system providing a first coverage zone individually associated with and at least enclosing the entrance to a queuing area of an event or attraction to which people in a queue seek entry;
a uniquely identified handset for issue to a user, said handset including means for permitting said user to obtain a place in a queue for an event or attraction, wherein the detection system is arranged to detect the handset when the handset is within the first coverage zone and to record the user of the handset as physically being in the queue indicative of the user having entered an event or attraction;
a second coverage zone, covering both the exit of the handset and associated user from the queuing area and from the event or associated attraction; and
means for automatically removing the user from the first queue when the respective handset is detected as having moved into said first coverage zone, followed by moving from the first to the second coverage zone.
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Abstract
A queue monitoring system is disclosed. A detection system (10) provides at least one coverage zone (15) covering at least a part of a queuing area (30). A handset (12) is issued to a user, the detection system (10) being arranged to detect the handset (12) when it is within the coverage zone (15) and to record the user of the handset as being in the queue. Queue load is subsequently used to provide recommended itineraries to visitors via the handsets (12).
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A queue monitoring system comprising:
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a detection system providing a first coverage zone individually associated with and at least enclosing the entrance to a queuing area of an event or attraction to which people in a queue seek entry;
a uniquely identified handset for issue to a user, said handset including means for permitting said user to obtain a place in a queue for an event or attraction, wherein the detection system is arranged to detect the handset when the handset is within the first coverage zone and to record the user of the handset as physically being in the queue indicative of the user having entered an event or attraction;
a second coverage zone, covering both the exit of the handset and associated user from the queuing area and from the event or associated attraction; and
means for automatically removing the user from the first queue when the respective handset is detected as having moved into said first coverage zone, followed by moving from the first to the second coverage zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An itinerary planning method for attractions employing a queue monitoring system comprising a detection system providing at least a and a handset for issue to each user, the first coverage zone covering the entry of a user into a queuing area, and a second coverage zone covering the exit of a user from a queuing area, detection system being arranged to detect the handset when the handset is within the coverage zone and to record the user of the handset as being in the queue, the method comprising:
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issuing a handset to each user;
maintaining a record of users in each queue;
generating in response to a request from a user, a proposed optimized itinerary for the user visiting the attractions in dependence on the record of users in each queue and in dependence on other itineraries generated for the same period; and
automatically removing a user from a queue in response to detecting their associated handset successively first entering an associated said first coverage zone followed by moving into an associated said second coverage zone.
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Specification