Method and system for electronic route planning and virtual queue handling

• US 6,889,900 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2002
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lo-Q PLC
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Davies, Robert J., Fulton, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labaze, Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US10/186,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20030010822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/382, 235/376, 235/382.5, 235/472.01, 235485-487, 340/826.5, 340/7.23, 340/7.27, 455/435, 455/450, 455/456, 455/510, 455/512, 455/514, 455/517, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/224, 709/226, 705/5
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/04 related to queuing systems

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).

Claims

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.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the detection system comprises one or more wireless transmitter/receivers arranged to communicate with the handset, a coverage zone comprising a transmission/reception zone of the wireless transmitter/receiver.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the wireless transmitter/receiver is a BlueTooth beacon.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the detection system provides a plurality of associated pairs of first and second coverage zones individually covering all queue within a theme park having multiple attractions and/or events.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the detection system provides a plurality of coverage zones between them covering all public areas of the theme park.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the handset in arranged to be able to communicate with a control system via the detection system when the handset is within a coverage zone.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the control system is arranged to provide directions to the handset in dependence on the coverage zone the handset is within, for guiding a user to the location of an attraction.

8. The system according to claim 6, in which the control system is arranged to accept payment authorization from the handset to obtain a place in a virtual queue to thereby avoid waiting in a physical queue.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein a cost for obtaining a place in the virtual queue is dependent on the physical queue size and/or attraction popularity.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the control system is arranged to credit people in the physical queue when a place in the virtual queue is purchased.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the credit comprises a portion of the payment made to virtually queue.

12. The system according to claim 6, wherein the control system is arranged to compile a recommended itinerary for a handset, the recommended itinerary being determined in dependence on detected queuing loads.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the itinerary comprises plurality of timed virtual queue places.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the control system is arranged to prompt and guide a user around a theme park via messages displayed on the handset in dependence on the virtual queue times.

15. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a remote access system arranged to automatically generate an itinerary for a user prior to a visit from a list of attractions previously provided by the user to the system.

16. The system according to claim 15, in which the remote access system comprises an extension of the detection system to a hotel.

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:

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.