Management of the flow of persons and advertisement distribution via wireless media

• US 7,400,932 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Hale, Gregory B, Schweizer, Kenneth W, Ackley, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr.; Ronald D
• Application Number:
  US11/468,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20070203763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 705/5, 700/17, 700/83, 700/89
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events

Abstract

A system and method of wirelessly managing the loading of patrons to an attraction in an entertainment environment is disclosed. A patron can register with the entertainment environment utilizing a wireless device owned by the patron. An electronic entry ticket for the attraction is allocated to the patron through the wireless device, the electronic entry ticket includes a time and a patron identifier in short messaging service format. The electronic entry ticket can also be provided in multimedia messaging service format. The patron can be provided with promotional information through the wireless device, wherein the promotional information can be related to the attraction. Finally, the patron can redeem the entry ticket at the time provided for the allocated entry ticket and allow the patron to enter the attraction utilizing the patron identifier.

Claims

1. A method of wirelessly managing the loading of patrons to an attraction in an entertainment environment, comprising:

permitting a patron to register a wireless device owned by the patron with the entertainment environment, the patron belonging to a hierarchy level in a hierarchy of patrons;

allocating an electronic entry ticket to the patron through the wireless device, the electronic entry ticket comprising a time and a patron identifier in short messaging service format, the entry ticket corresponding to the attraction;

permitting the patron to redeem the entry ticket at the time provided for the allocated entry ticket; and

allowing the patron to enter the attraction using the patron identifier, wherein the patron is further permitted to register the wireless device anywhere, including away from the entertainment environment, if the hierarchy level to which the patron belongs has a high priority.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the patron is permitted to register the wireless device using the wireless device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the patron is permitted to register the wireless device through a website.

4. A method of wirelessly managing the loading of patrons to an attraction in an entertainment environment, comprising:

permitting a patron to register a wireless device owned by the patron with the entertainment environment, the patron belonging to a hierarchy level in a hierarchy of patrons;

allocating an electronic entry ticket to the patron through the wireless device, the electronic entry ticket comprising a time and a patron identifier in short messaging service format, the entry ticket corresponding to the attraction;

permitting the patron to redeem the entry ticket at the time provided for the allocated entry ticket; and

allowing the patron to enter the attraction using the patron identifier, wherein the allocating of the entry ticket to the patron is performed on a lottery basis.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the patron has a higher probability to receive the entry ticket if the patron belongs to a high priority.

6. A method of wirelessly managing the loading of patrons to an attraction in an entertainment environment, comprising:

permitting a patron to register a wireless device owned by the patron with the entertainment environment, the patron belonging to a hierarchy level in a hierarchy of patrons;

allocating an electronic entry ticket to the patron through the wireless device, the electronic entry ticket comprising a time and a patron identifier in short messaging service format, the entry ticket corresponding to the attraction;

permitting the patron to redeem the entry ticket at the time provided for the allocated entry ticket; and

allowing the patron to enter the attraction using the patron identifier, wherein the identifier is a biometric feature.

7. A method of wirelessly managing the loading of patrons to an attraction in an entertainment environment, comprising:

permitting a patron to register a wireless device owned by the patron with the entertainment environment, the patron belonging to a hierarchy level in a hierarchy of patrons;

allocating an electronic entry ticket to the patron through the wireless device, the electronic entry ticket comprising a time and a patron identifier in short messaging service format, the entry ticket corresponding to the attraction;

permitting the patron to redeem the entry ticket at the time provided for the allocated entry ticket; and

allowing the patron to enter the attraction using the patron identifier, wherein the identifier is a pass code composed of a sequence of characters valid for a predetermined amount of time.

8. A method of wirelessly managing the loading of patrons to an attraction in an entertainment environment, comprising:

permitting a patron to register a wireless device owned by the patron with the entertainment environment, the patron belonging to a hierarchy level in a hierarchy of patrons;

allocating an electronic entry ticket to the patron through the wireless device, the electronic entry ticket comprising a time and a patron identifier in short messaging service format, the entry ticket corresponding to the attraction;

permitting the patron to redeem the entry ticket at the time provided for the allocated entry ticket; and

allowing the patron to enter the attraction using the patron identifier, wherein the entry ticket allocated to the patron through the wireless device is accompanied by promotional information.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the promotional information comprises advertisement information.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the promotional information comprises discounted merchandise coupons.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the discounted merchandise coupons are related to the attraction.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the discounted merchandise coupons are related to merchandise located in stores nearby the attraction within the entertainment environment.

13. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the promotional information comprises discounted food coupons.

14. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the promotional information comprises a second entry ticket for a second attraction in the entertainment environment.

15. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the promotional information comprises an attraction schedule for a second attraction in the entertainment environment.

16. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the promotional information is redeemable for a predetermined amount of time.

17. A method of wirelessly managing the loading of patrons to an attraction in an entertainment environment, comprising:

permitting a patron to register a wireless device owned by the patron with the entertainment environment, the patron belonging to a hierarchy level in a hierarchy of patrons;

permitting the patron to make a request for an entry ticket to the attraction in the entertainment environment;

allocating the entry ticket to the patron through the wireless device, the entry ticket comprising a time and a patron identifier in multimedia messaging service format;

permitting the patron to redeem the entry ticket at the time provided for the allocated entry ticket; and

allowing the patron to enter the attraction using the patron identifier, wherein the patron identifier includes an image corresponding to a theme of the attraction.

18. A method of wirelessly managing the loading of patrons to an attraction in an entertainment environment, comprising:

permitting a patron to register a wireless device owned by the patron with the entertainment environment;

the patron belonging to a hierarchy level in a hierarchy of patrons;

permitting the patron to make a request for an entry ticket to the attraction in the entertainment environment;

allocating the entry ticket to the patron through the wireless device, the entry ticket comprising a time and a patron identifier in multimedia messaging service format;

transmitting promotional information through the wireless device;

permitting the patron to redeem the entry ticket at the time provided for the allocated entry ticket; and

allowing the patron to enter the attraction using the identifier.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the promotional information comprises advertisement information for goods related to the theme of the attraction.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the promotional information comprises discounted merchandise coupons for goods related to the theme of the attraction.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the discounted merchandise coupons are related to the attraction.

22. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the discounted merchandise coupons are related to merchandise located in stores nearby the attraction within the entertainment environment.

23. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the promotional information comprises discounted merchandise coupons for goods related to the theme of any attraction in the entertainment environment.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the discounted merchandise coupons have a greater discount for patrons belonging to a hierarchy level in the hierarchy of patron which is high.

25. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the promotional information comprises discounted food coupons.

26. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the promotional information comprises a second entry ticket for a second aifraction in the entertainment environment.

27. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the promotional information comprises an attraction schedule for a second attraction in the entertainment environment.