Patron service system and method
First Claim
1. A method of providing patron service at a venue, comprising:
- providing, to each of a plurality of patrons, a wireless portable patron unit in communication with one or more central computer systems, the patron unit including an interactive display and providing a plurality of functions, including;
enabling entry, using the interactive display, of a plurality of patron information, including;
a patron identifier, a current location of the patron unit, patron requests, and a different location of the patron unit when the patron moves to the different location at the venue;
providing wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive the entered patron information and to perform a plurality of venue functions, including;
authenticating the patron using the patron identifier, processing the patron requests, retrieving previously stored information regarding the authenticated patron from a patron database, and wirelessly sending the received patron information and the retrieved patron information to one or more portable wireless staff units;
selectably receiving and displaying on the interactive display information from the one or more central computer systems, including;
a status of open patron requests from the patron, information regarding the patron retrieved from the patron database, information from a staff member assigned to the patron, and venue information; and
providing, to each of a plurality of staff members, a wireless portable staff unit in communication with the one or more central computer systems, each of the wireless portable staff units including an interactive display and providing a plurality of functions, including;
selectably receiving and displaying information on the interactive display from the one or more central computer systems, including;
information regarding patrons assigned to a particular staff member, current locations of the assigned patrons, assigned patron requests, status of the assigned patron requests, different locations of the assigned patrons, and patron information regarding the assigned patrons retrieved from the patron database;
enabling entry, by the staff member using the interactive display, of a plurality of staff information, including;
staff requests, requests for information regarding the assigned patron requests, requests for information from the patron database regarding the assigned patrons, information updating the status of open assigned patron requests, and information modifying the assigned patron requests; and
providing wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive and process the entered staff information.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A patron service system and method is described herein with reference to several exemplary implementations. For example, in one described implementation, portable patron units are provided to patrons for use in a resort or other establishment. The portable patron units are mobile wireless devices that include interactive display screens. The portable patron units enables patrons to interact order items, request services, and/or browse information associated with the resort wirelessly. Portable staff units are provided to staff members for use in the resort or other establishment. The portable staff units are also mobile wireless devices that include interactive display screens. The portable staff units, enable staff members to view information about orders and/or requests entered by patrons made by the patrons wirelessly. The portable staff units can also display locations of the portable patron units to enable staff members to locate portable patron units when delivering items, servicing requests, etc.
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Citations
103 Claims
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1. A method of providing patron service at a venue, comprising:
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providing, to each of a plurality of patrons, a wireless portable patron unit in communication with one or more central computer systems, the patron unit including an interactive display and providing a plurality of functions, including; enabling entry, using the interactive display, of a plurality of patron information, including;
a patron identifier, a current location of the patron unit, patron requests, and a different location of the patron unit when the patron moves to the different location at the venue;providing wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive the entered patron information and to perform a plurality of venue functions, including;
authenticating the patron using the patron identifier, processing the patron requests, retrieving previously stored information regarding the authenticated patron from a patron database, and wirelessly sending the received patron information and the retrieved patron information to one or more portable wireless staff units;selectably receiving and displaying on the interactive display information from the one or more central computer systems, including;
a status of open patron requests from the patron, information regarding the patron retrieved from the patron database, information from a staff member assigned to the patron, and venue information; andproviding, to each of a plurality of staff members, a wireless portable staff unit in communication with the one or more central computer systems, each of the wireless portable staff units including an interactive display and providing a plurality of functions, including; selectably receiving and displaying information on the interactive display from the one or more central computer systems, including;
information regarding patrons assigned to a particular staff member, current locations of the assigned patrons, assigned patron requests, status of the assigned patron requests, different locations of the assigned patrons, and patron information regarding the assigned patrons retrieved from the patron database;enabling entry, by the staff member using the interactive display, of a plurality of staff information, including;
staff requests, requests for information regarding the assigned patron requests, requests for information from the patron database regarding the assigned patrons, information updating the status of open assigned patron requests, and information modifying the assigned patron requests; andproviding wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive and process the entered staff information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
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11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media, comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a wireless portable patron unit, having an interactive display, at a venue, having one or more central computer systems, to perform a plurality off functions, including the functions of:
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enabling entry, using the interactive display, of a plurality of patron information, including;
a patron identifier, a current location of the patron unit, patron requests, and a different location of the patron unit when the patron moves to the different location at the venue;providing wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive the entered patron information and to perform a plurality of venue functions, including;
authenticating the patron using the patron identifier, processing the patron requests, retrieving previously stored information regarding the authenticated patron from a patron database, and wirelessly sending the received patron information and the retrieved patron information to one or more portable wireless staff units; andselectably receiving and displaying on the interactive display information from the one or more central computer systems, including;
a status of open patron requests from the patron, information regarding the patron retrieved from the patron database, information from a staff member assigned to the patron while the staff member is using a portable wireless staff unit, and venue information,wherein the current location of the patron unit and the different location of the patron unit are selectably received by and displayed on at least one wireless portable staff unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 92, 96)
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19. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a wireless portable staff unit, in communication with one or more central computer systems and with one or more wireless portable patron units using wireless network at a venue, to perform a plurality of functions, including:
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selectably receiving and displaying, on an interactive display of the portable staff unit, information from the one or more central computer systems, including;
information regarding patrons assigned to a particular staff member, current locations of the assigned patrons, assigned patron requests, status of the assigned patron requests, different locations of the assigned patrons when any of the assigned patrons moves to a different location at the venue, and patron information regarding the assigned patrons retrieved by the one or more central computer systems from a patron database after authentication of the patron by the one or more central computer system,wherein the user interface also enables entry, by the staff member using the interactive display, of a plurality of staff information, including;
staff requests, requests for information regarding the assigned patron requests, requests for information from the patron database regarding the assigned patrons, information updating the status of open assigned patron requests, and information modifying the assigned patron requests; andproviding wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive and process the entered staff information, wherein a current location of an assigned patron and a different location of the assigned patron are entered into, and selectably displayed on, a wireless portable patron unit. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 98)
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27. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct one or more central computer systems at a venue, in communication with a one or more wireless portable patron units and one or more wireless portable staff units over a wireless network, to perform a plurality of functions, including:
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receiving wireless signals from the one or more patron units, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive patron information entered by a patron using an interactive display of a patron unit and to perform a plurality of venue functions, including;
authenticating a patron using a patron identifier entered by a patron on the patron unit, processing patron requests, and retrieving previously stored information regarding the authenticated patron from a patron database;wirelessly sending the received patron information and the retrieved patron information to the one or more staff units; receiving wireless signals from the one or more staff units, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive staff information entered by a staff member using an interactive display of a staff unit, and to perform a plurality of staff venue functions, including processing;
staff requests, requests for information regarding the assigned patron requests, requests for information from the patron database regarding the assigned patrons, information updating the status of open assigned patron requests, and information modifying the assigned patron requests; andwirelessly sending designated received staff information, the retrieved patron information, and venue information to the one or more patron units, wherein the received patron information includes a current location of a patron unit, and a different location of the patron unit when a patron moves to a different location at the venue, which are selectably displayed on the patron unit and the one or more staff units. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A wireless portable patron unit for use in a venue, in communication with one or more central computer systems and with one or more wireless portable staff units, the wireless portable patron unit comprising:
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a controller; an interactive display; a user interface for display on the interactive display, the user interface configured to enable entry of a plurality of patron information, including;
a patron identifier, a current location of the patron unit, patron requests, and a different location of the patron unit when the patron moves to the different location at the venue; anda communicator, for providing wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive the entered patron information and to perform a plurality of venue functions, including;
authenticating the patron using the patron identifier, processing the patron requests, retrieving previously stored information regarding the authenticated patron from a patron database, and wirelessly sending the received patron information and the retrieved patron information to the one or more portable wireless staff units,wherein the controller enables the patron to selectably receive and display on the interactive display information from the one or more central computer systems, including;
a status of open patron requests from the patron, information regarding the patron retrieved from the patron database, information from a staff member assigned to the patron while the staff member is using a portable wireless staff unit, and venue information,wherein the current location of the patron unit and the different location of the patron unit are selectably received by and displayed on at least one wireless portable staff unit. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 79, 80, 91, 94, 95)
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52. A wireless portable staff unit assigned to a staff member, in communication with one or more central computer systems and with one or more wireless portable patron units using a wireless network at a venue, comprising:
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a controller; an interactive display; a user interface for display on the interactive display, the user interface being configured to selectably receive and display information on the interactive display from the one or more central computer systems, including;
information regarding patrons assigned to a particular staff member, current locations of the assigned patrons, assigned patron requests, status of the assigned patron requests, different locations of the assigned patrons when any of the assigned patrons moves to a different location at the venue, and patron information regarding the assigned patrons retrieved by the one or more central computer systems from a patron database after authentication of the patron by the one or more central computer system,wherein the user interface also enables entry, by the staff member using the interactive display, of a plurality of staff information, including;
staff requests, requests for information regarding the assigned patron requests, requests for information from the patron database regarding the assigned patrons, information updating the status of open assigned patron requests, and information modifying the assigned patron requests; anda communicator providing wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive and process the entered staff information, wherein the current location of an assigned patron and the different location of the assigned patron are entered into, and selectably displayed on, a wireless portable patron unit. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 97)
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60. A method for a wireless portable staff unit used by a staff member in a venue, in communication with one or more central computer systems and with one or more wireless portable patron units using a wireless network at a venue, comprising:
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selectably receiving and displaying information on an interactive display of the staff unit from the one or more central computer systems, including;
information regarding patrons assigned to a particular staff member, current locations of the assigned patrons, assigned patron requests, status of the assigned patron requests, different locations of the assigned patrons when any of the assigned patrons moves to a different location at the venue, and patron information regarding an assigned patron retrieved by the one or more central computer systems from a patron database after authentication of the assigned patron by the one or more central computer systems,enabling entry, by the staff member using the interactive display of the staff unit, of a plurality of staff information, including;
staff requests, requests for information regarding the assigned patron requests, requests for information from the patron database regarding the assigned patrons, information updating the status of open assigned patron requests, and information modifying the assigned patron requests; andproviding wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive and process the entered staff information; and communicating with assigned patrons via their patron unit units, wherein a current location of an assigned patron and a different location of the assigned patron are entered into, and selectably displayed on, the wireless portable patron unit. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 99)
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66. A method of providing patron service in a stadium/arena, comprising:
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providing, to each of a plurality of patrons, a wireless portable patron unit having an interactive display in communication with one or more central computer systems, each of the wireless portable patron units, having downloaded therein a stadium/arena seating configuration of a designated stadium/arena, and providing a plurality of functions, including; enabling entry, using the interactive display, of a plurality of patron information, including;
a patron identifier, a current location of the patron unit in the stadium/arena that correlates to the designated stadium/arena seating configuration, patron requests, and a different location of the patron unit when the patron moves to the different location at the stadium/venue;providing wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive the entered patron information and to perform a plurality of stadium/arena functions, including;
authenticating the patron using the patron identifier, processing the patron requests, retrieving previously stored information regarding the authenticated patron from a patron database, and wirelessly sending the received patron information and the retrieved patron information to one or more portable wireless staff units;selectably receiving and displaying on the interactive display information from the one or more central computer systems, including;
a status of open patron requests from the patron, information regarding the patron retrieved from the patron database, information from a staff member assigned to the patron, and stadium/arena information; andproviding, to each of a plurality of staff members, a wireless portable staff unit in communication with the one or more central computer systems, each of the wireless portable staff units including an interactive display and providing a plurality of functions, including; selectably receiving and displaying information on the interactive display from the one or more central computer systems, including;
information regarding patrons assigned to a particular staff member, current locations of the assigned patrons, assigned patron requests, status of the assigned patron requests, different locations of the assigned patrons, and patron information regarding the assigned patrons retrieved from the patron database;enabling entry, by the staff member using the interactive display, of a plurality of staff information, including;
staff requests, requests for information regarding the assigned patron requests, requests for information from the patron database regarding the assigned patrons, information updating the status of open assigned patron requests, and information modifying the assigned patron requests; andproviding wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive and process the entered staff information. - View Dependent Claims (77, 93, 100, 101)
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67. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a wireless portable staff unit, in communication with one or more central computer systems and with one or more wireless portable patron units using a wireless network at a stadium/arena, to perform a plurality of functions, including:
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selectably receiving and displaying, on an interactive display of the staff unit, information from the one or more central computer systems, including;
information regarding patrons assigned to a particular staff member, current locations of the assigned patrons in the stadium/arena, assigned patron requests, status of the assigned patron requests, different locations of the assigned patrons when any of the assigned patrons moves to a different location at the stadium/arena, and patron information regarding the assigned patrons retrieved by the one or more central computer systems from a patron database after authentication of the patron by the one or more central computer systems,wherein the user interface also enables entry, by the staff member using the interactive display, of a plurality of staff information, including;
staff requests, requests for information regarding the assigned patron requests, requests for information from the patron database regarding the assigned patrons, information updating the status of open assigned patron requests, and information modifying the assigned patron requests; andproviding wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive and process the entered staff information, wherein a current location of an assigned patron and a different location of the assigned patron are entered into, and selectable displayed on, a wireless portable patron unit. - View Dependent Claims (78)
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68. A wireless portable patron unit for use in a stadium/arena, in communication with one or more central computer systems and with one or more wireless portable staff units, comprising:
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a controller; an interactive display; a memory, having stored therein a stadium/arena seating configuration of a designated stadium/arena; a user interface for display on the interactive display, the user interface configured to enable entry of a plurality of patron information, including;
a patron identifier, a current location of the patron unit in the stadium/arena, patron requests, and a different location of the patron unit when the patron moves to the different location at the stadium/arena; anda communicator, for providing wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive the entered patron information and to perform a plurality of stadium/arena functions, including;
authenticating the patron using the patron identifier, processing the patron requests, retrieving previously stored information regarding the authenticated patron from a patron database, and wirelessly sending the received patron information and the retrieved patron information to the one or more portable wireless staff units,wherein the controller enables the patron to selectably receive and display on the interactive display information from the one or more central computer systems, including;
a status of open patron requests from the patron, information regarding the patron retrieved from the patron database, information from a staff member assigned to the patron while the staff member is using a portable wireless staff unit, and stadium/arena information,wherein the current location of the patron unit and the different location of the patron unit are selectably received by and displayed on the portable wireless staff unit. - View Dependent Claims (69, 102)
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70. A method for a wireless portable staff unit used by a staff member in a stadium/arena, in communication with one or more central computer systems and with one or more wireless portable patron units using a wireless network, comprising:
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selectably receiving and displaying information on an interactive display of the staff unit from the one or more central computer systems, including;
information regarding patrons assigned to a particular staff member, current locations of the assigned patrons at the stadium/arena, assigned patron requests, status of the assigned patron requests, different locations of the assigned patrons when any of the assigned patrons moves to a different location at the stadium/arena, and patron information regarding the assigned patrons retrieved by the one or more central computer systems from a patron database after authentication of the patron by the one or more central computer system,enabling entry, by the staff member using the interactive display of the staff unit, of a plurality of staff information, including;
staff requests, requests for information regarding the assigned patron requests, requests for information from the patron database regarding the assigned patrons, information updating the status of open assigned patron requests, and information modifying the assigned patron requests; andproviding wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive and process the entered staff information; and communicating with assigned patrons via their patron unit units, wherein a current location of an assigned patron and a different location of the assigned patron are entered into, and selectably displayed on, a wireless portable patron unit.
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81. A method for providing patron service at a venue, comprising:
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providing, to each of a plurality of patrons, a wireless portable patron unit in communication with one or more central computer systems, each of the wireless portable patron units providing a plurality of functions, including; providing an interactive display; allowing a patron to input patron identification information; allowing a patron to input a patron request; providing wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to process the patron request, to determine a current location of the patron unit, and to track subsequent locations of the patron unit in real time; displaying a status of an open patron request; receiving and displaying information from the one or more central computer systems; providing, to each of a plurality of staff, a wireless portable staff unit in communication with the one or more central computer systems, each of the wireless portable staff units providing a plurality of functions, including; providing an interactive display; receiving from the one or more central computer systems the current location of the patron unit, and the subsequent locations of the patron unit in real time; sending staff requests to the one or more central computer systems for information regarding the patron request; viewing the open patron request and the status of the open patron request; displaying a map on the interactive display of the staff unit showing the current location of the patron unit, and the subsequent locations of the patron unit in real time; displaying information regarding previous patron requests from the patron, which have been retrieved from a patron database associated with the one or more central computer systems; allowing a staff member to update the status of the open patron request; and allowing the staff member to input a patron request for the patron using the staff unit; and providing one or more central computer systems, said one or more central computer systems providing a plurality of functions, receiving and processing patron requests from the plurality of patrons via the plurality of patron units; determining a current location of each of the plurality of patron units from the wireless signals provided from the plurality of patron units, and tracking subsequent locations of the plurality of patron units in real time; storing information regarding previous patron requests, from each of the plurality of patrons, in a database; and receiving and processing staff requests from the plurality of staff, wherein the current location of the patron unit, and the subsequent locations of the patron unit, are selectably displayed on the patron unit. - View Dependent Claims (82)
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83. A method for providing patron service at a venue, comprising:
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downloading a patron unit software application to patron-supplied hardware, software application allowing the patron-supplied hardware to operate as a wireless portable patron unit and to provide a plurality of functions, including; enabling entry of a plurality of patron information, including;
a patron identifier, a current location of the patron unit, patron requests, and a different location of the patron unit when the patron moves to the different location at the venue;providing wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive the entered patron information and to perform a plurality of venue functions, including;
authenticating the patron using the patron identifier, processing the patron requests, retrieving previously stored information regarding the authenticated patron from a patron database, and wirelessly sending the received patron information and the retrieved patron information to one or more portable wireless staff units; andselectably receiving and displaying information from the one or more central computer systems, including;
a status of open patron requests from the patron, information regarding the patron retrieved from the patron database, information from a staff member assigned to the patron, and venue information; andproviding, to each of a plurality of staff members, a wireless portable staff unit in communication with the one or more central computer systems, each of the wireless portable staff units including an interactive display and providing a plurality of functions, including; selectably receiving and displaying information on the interactive display from the one or more central computer systems, including;
information regarding patrons assigned to a particular staff member, current locations of the assigned patrons, assigned patron requests, status of the assigned patron requests, different locations of the assigned patrons, and patron information regarding the assigned patrons retrieved from the patron database;enabling entry, by the staff member using the interactive display, of a plurality of staff information, including;
staff requests, requests for information regarding the assigned patron requests, requests for information from the patron database regarding the assigned patrons, information updating the status of open assigned patron requests, and information modifying the assigned patron requests; andproviding wireless signals to the one or more central computer systems, permitting the one or more central computer systems to receive and process the entered staff information. - View Dependent Claims (84, 103)
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Specification